Episode 294 Myths and Legends Ishtar
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1. Fill in the blanks while you listen to the episode. Character Overview In the ancient Near East, Ishtar was an important and widely worshipped mother goddess for many Semitic peoples. The Sumerians called her Inanna, and other groups of the Near East referred to her as Astarte. A complex figure, Ishtar combined the [1] good and evil-of many different [2] . As a mother figure, she was considered the mother of gods and humans, as well as the creator of all [3] blessings. In this role, she grieved over human [4] and served as a protector of [5] and motherhood. People also worshipped Ishtar as the goddess of sexual love and fertility. The more destructive side of Ishtar’s nature emerged primarily in [6] with war and storms. As a warrior goddess, she could make even the gods tremble in fear. As a storm goddess, she [7] bring rain and thunder. Major Myths Some myths say that Ishtar was the daughter of the moon god Sin and sister of the sun god Shamash. Others mention the sky god Anu, the moon god Nanna, the water god Ea, or the god [8] , lord of the earth and the air, as her father. Ishtar appears in many myths, but two are especially important. The first, part of the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, tells how [9] offered to [10] the hero-king Gilgamesh because she was impressed by his courage and exploits. According to the epic, Gilgamesh refused her offer and insulted Ishtar, reminding the goddess of all the previous lovers she had harmed. Enraged, Ishtar sent the fierce Bull of Heaven to kill Gilgamesh, but he and his [11] Enkidu killed the beast instead. The other [ 12 ] myth of [ 13 ] concerns her descent to the underworld (land of the dead) and the sacrifice of her husband Tammuz. In this story, Ishtar decided to visit the underworld, which was ruled by her [14] Ereshkigal, perhaps to seize power there. Before departing, she instructed her follower Ninshubur to seek the help of the gods if she did not [15] . To reach the underworld, Ishtar had to pass through seven gates and remove a English Plus Podcast - 2 - [16] of her power-such as an article of clothing or a piece of jewelry-at each one. At the last gate, the goddess, naked and deprived of all her powers, met her sister Ereshkigal, who announced that Ishtar must die. She died immediately, and her corpse was hung on a stake. Meanwhile, the god Enki learned from Ninshubur that Ishtar was missing and sent two messengers who restored her to life. However, in order to leave the underworld, Ishtar had to substitute another body for her own. The goddess offered her young [17] , Tammuz, to take her place. This tale of death and rebirth was [18] with fertility and linked to the seasons and agricultural cycles, much like the story of Persephone in Greek mythology. In another version of the [19] ,[20] travels to the underworld to rescue Tammuz, who has died, and manages to [21] him back-but only for part of each year. Thus the [22] and rebirth of Tammuz is also linked to fertility and agricultural cycles. Ishtar in Context Ishtar and the myths about her provide interesting insight into ancient Near Eastern views on the roles of men and women in society. For example, [23] is said to have had many relationships with men, gods, and animals. During those relationships, the males are [24] always said to have suffered because they were distracted or weakened by Ishtar’s power over them. This suggests that ancient Babylonians respected and revered [25] ’s reproductive power. The [26] given this powerful female goddess translated into [27] for women in Babylonian society. Though Near [28] rulers were usually men, women were able to hold [29] and prestigious religious and political positions. This changed as the male- dominated Judeo-Christian faiths arose in the Near East, and female-dominated rituals and practices associated with the worship of Ishtar were branded as evil. As the worship of Ishtar faded, women gradually lost their [30] , political, legal, and [31] power. Key Themes and Symbols Ishtar was believed to be the representation of the planet [32] , and the eight- pointed star is a symbol commonly associated with her. As an extension of her role as the goddess of [33] love, Ishtar was also the [34] of prostitutes and alehouses. Prostitution was an important part of her cult, and her holy city Erech was [35] as the town of the [36] courtesans (prostitutes). Ishtar in Art, Literature, and Everyday Life Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com 2 English Plus Podcast - 3 - In modern times, Ishtar has benefited from renewed interest in ancient mythologies of the Near East. The 1987 film Ishtar, starring Warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman and often cited as one of the biggest boxoffice failures in cinematic history, is not connected with the Babylonian goddess other than by name. The name Ishtar has also been used for characters in numerous video games and Japanese [37] , though most do not draw heavily from the mythology of the original goddess. Read, Write, [38] ,Discuss In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the hero insults Ishtar by mentioning her many loves and the sad fates they met. Do you think modern [39] who have a number of romantic relationships are viewed in a similarly negative way today? Do you think this same view applies to males who have several romantic relationships? Why or why not? A. respect B. goddesses C. females D. return E. almost F. sorrows G. Think H. symbol I. sacred J. protector K. Venus L. respect M. Ishtar N. friend O. women P. Ishtar Q. marry R. well-known S. powerful T. characteristics-both U. death V. connection W. Enlil X. story Y. religious Z. Ishtar AA. sister BB. associated CC. known DD. comics EE. marriage FF. could GG. Ishtar HH. domestic II. Eastern JJ. husband KK. bring LL. sexual MM. earthly Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com 3 English Plus Podcast - 4 - 2. Fill in the blanks while you listen to the episode. Character Overview In the ancient Near East, Ishtar was an [1] and widely [2] [3] goddess for many Semitic peoples. The Sumerians called her Inanna, and other [4] of the Near East [5] to her as Astarte. A complex figure, Ishtar [6] the characteristics-both good and evil-of many different goddesses. As a mother [7] ,shewas[8] the mother of gods and humans, as well as the [9] of all earthly blessings. In this role, she [10] over [11] sorrows and served as a [12] of marriage and motherhood. [13] also worshipped Ishtar as the goddess of [14] love and [15] . The more destructive side of Ishtar’s [16] emerged primarily in connection with war and [17] .Asa warrior [18] ,she[19] make even the gods [20] in fear. As a [21] goddess, she could bring rain and thunder. [22] [23] Some myths say that Ishtar was the daughter of the moon god Sin and [24] of the sun god Shamash. Others mention the sky god Anu, the moon god [25] ,the [26] god Ea, or the god [27] ,lordofthe[28] and the air, as her father. [29] appears in many myths, but two are especially [30] .Thefirst, part of the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh, [31] how Ishtar offered to [32] the hero-king [33] [34] she was [35] by his courage and exploits. [36] to the epic, Gilgamesh [37] her offer and insulted Ishtar, [38] the goddess of all the previous lovers she had harmed. [39] ,[40] sent the fierce Bull of [41] to kill [42] , but he and his friend Enkidu killed the [43] instead. The other well-known myth of Ishtar concerns her [44] to the underworld (land of the dead) and the sacrifice of her husband Tammuz. In this story, [45] decided to visit Copyright © 2021 English Plus Podcast | www.englishpluspodcast.com 4 English Plus Podcast - 5 - the underworld, which was ruled by her sister Ereshkigal, perhaps to seize [46] there. [47] departing, she instructed her [48] Ninshubur to seek the help of the gods if she did not [49] . To reach the underworld, Ishtar had to pass through [50] [51] and [52] a[53] of her power-such as an article of clothing or a piece of jewelry-at each one. At the last gate, the goddess, naked and deprived of all her powers, met her sister [54] , who announced that [55] must die. She died immediately, and her [56] was hung on a stake. [57] , the god Enki learned from Ninshubur that [58] was missing and sent two [59] who [ 60 ] her to life. [61] , in order to leave the underworld, Ishtar had to substitute [62] body for her own. The goddess offered her [63] husband, Tammuz, to take her place. This tale of [64] and [65] was [66] with fertility and linked to the seasons and agricultural [67] , much like the [68] of [69] in Greek [70] . In another version of the story, Ishtar [71] to the underworld to [72] Tammuz, who has died, and manages to bring him back-but only for part of each year. Thus the [73] and rebirth of Tammuz is also linked to fertility and agricultural [74] . Ishtar in [75] Ishtar and the myths about her [76] interesting insight into ancient Near [77] views on the [78] of men and [79] in [80] . For example, Ishtar is said to have had many relationships with men, gods, and animals. [81] those relationships, the males are almost always said to have suffered because they were distracted or weakened by Ishtar’s power over them.